Patents by Inventor Steven B. Volk

Steven B. Volk has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20040255318
    Abstract: A user-removable optical data storage system is provided. A rotatable first-surface medium is enveloped in a cartridge. The cartridge provides relatively large data capacity such as about 0.25 Gbytes or more despite a relatively small size such as about 35 mm×35 mm×3 mm. Preferably the cartridge substantially seals the data surfaces of the medium when the cartridge is withdrawn from a drive and at least a portion of one surface is automatically exposed to the objective of an optics arm when said cartridge is inserted in the drive. Tracking involves rotating an optic arm about an axis parallel to the disk rotation axis. Focus can involve pivoting the arm about an axis parallel to the disk surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2004
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Inventors: Michael F. Braitberg, Steven B. Volk, Gregory D. Volan, Ian R. Redmond
  • Publication number: 20040212926
    Abstract: A cartridge for an optical data storage disc includes a sheet metal sheath that is folded back on itself and a plastic insert that is inserted into the sheath. An opening is formed in the plastic insert for holding an optical data storage disc. The sheath includes two wall portions that are located on opposite sides of a bend area, where the sheet metal is folded. The two wall portions are attached to each other, preferably by spot-welding, to form a structurally stable sandwich that includes the plastic insert between the wall portions. The opening in the plastic insert becomes a cavity for holding the disc. A shutter opening is formed in one of the wall portions, and spindle openings are formed in both wall portions. A shutter covers the shutter opening when the cartridge is not operational to protect the disc. The disc is rotated by the spindle of an external disc drive which enters a central hole of the disc through the spindle openings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Inventors: Steven B. Volk, Thomas E. Berg
  • Publication number: 20040213095
    Abstract: A disc drive designed to hold a cartridge containing an optical data storage disk is compatible with a memory card slot in a host digital electronics device such as a PDA, for example a slot designed for a Type I CompactFlash card. The disc drive contains a body assembly which is inserted into the memory card slot and which has a compatible connector at one end. The disc drive also includes a drive mechanism which contains the spindle motor and optics systems and which is located outside the memory card slot when the drive is in operation. The drive mechanism is lifted from the body assembly to form an opening to a tray into which a cartridge is loaded. The drive mechanism is then pressed against the body assembly to close the cartridge tray and to cause the spindle motor assembly to engage the optical disc within the cartridge. To minimize the extent to which the disc drive protrudes from the host device, part of the cartridge extends into the memory card slot when the disc drive is connected to the host.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Inventors: Steven B. Volk, Thomas E. Berg
  • Publication number: 20040177259
    Abstract: An optical data storage disc contains at least an “X data area” and a user data area, the latter of which may include for example a video game or a movie. The disc drive internally loads and runs a program (the “X program”) resident in the X data area before the user data is accessed. The X program may operate on data that are read from the disc or delivered by host device to the disc drive. The X program generates a result that is delivered to the interface between the disc drive and a host device (e.g., a cell phone or a PDA), and the host device reads the result and compares it with an expected result. If a predetermined correspondence exists, the disc drive is authorized to read the user data. If the predetermined correspondence does not exist, the user data cannot be read. The content of the X data area, including the X program, never appears at an interface between the disc drive and a host device (e.g., a cell phone or PDA).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2003
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Inventor: Steven B. Volk
  • Patent number: 6631359
    Abstract: An optical medium uses a single structure or format (such as identical materials, layers and the like) for both a region for holding information content-mastered data and a writeable area. In one aspect, a writeable region of a medium with information content-mastered data is used in connection with paying, collecting or accounting for usage or royalties for proprietary intellectual property embodied in or associated with the content. In one embodiment, a key permitting access to some or all content, preferably when combined with a disk serial number, is stored in the writeable area, which is preferably user-inaccessible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: DPHI Acquisitions, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael F. Braitberg, Steven B. Volk
  • Publication number: 20030188175
    Abstract: A system and method of identifying one or more vendors associated with a media disk includes providing instructions for the media disk, during a first install of the media disk into a host according to the instructions, installing an identifier on the media disk, the identifier including a code identifying the vendor from which the media disk originated, and after transmitting data to a server, reading the identifier to find a location associated with the vendor. An embodiment of a system and method of identifying a location via a media disk having at least a writeable portion and a non-rewriteable portion includes writing the location on the writeable portion, distributing one or more of the media disks to one or more entities, the location associating the media disks to the one or more entities, and if a return of the media disks occurs, altering the location according to predetermined conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2001
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventors: Steven B. Volk, Michael F. Braitberg, Timothy R. Feldman, Lane W. Lee, Douglas M. Rayburn, Gary G. Kiwimagi
  • Publication number: 20030117938
    Abstract: A user-removable optical data storage system is provided. A rotatable first-surface medium is enveloped in a cartridge. The cartridge provides relatively large data capacity such as about 0.25 Gbytes or more despite a relatively small size such as about 35 mm×35 mm×3 mm. Preferably the cartridge substantially seals the data surfaces of the medium when the cartridge is withdrawn from a drive and at least a portion of one surface is automatically exposed to the objective of an optics arm when said cartridge is inserted in the drive. Tracking involves rotating an optic arm about an axis parallel to the disk rotation axis. Focus can involve pivoting the arm about an axis parallel to the disk surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Applicant: SpinVision, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael F. Braitberg, Steven B. Volk, Gregory D. Volan, Ian R. Redmond
  • Patent number: 6580683
    Abstract: An optical medium uses a single structure or format (such as identical materials, layers and the like) for both a region for holding mastered data and a writeable area. In one aspect, a writeable region of a medium with mastered content is used in connection with paying, collecting or accounting for usage or royalties for proprietary intellectual property embodied in or associated with the content. In one embodiment, the (preferably write-once) writeable area can be used for storing later-written information such as annotations, highlighting, reordering, remixing, modifications, supplements, collections, additions, bookmarks, cross references, hypertext or hyperlinks and the like. Preferably, annotations and similar materials can be associated, by the user, with particular portions or content of the mastered data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: DataPlay, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael F. Braitberg, Steven B. Volk, Daniel R. Zaharris, David H. Davies
  • Publication number: 20020101816
    Abstract: A user-removable optical data storage system is provided. A rotatable first-surface medium is enveloped in a cartridge. The cartridge provides relatively large data capacity such as about 0.25 Gbytes or more despite a relatively small size such as about 35 mm×35 mm×3 mm. Preferably the cartridge substantially seals the data surfaces of the medium when the cartridge is withdrawn from a drive and at least a portion of one surface is automatically exposed to the objective of an optics arm when said cartridge is inserted in the drive. Tracking involves rotating an optic arm about an axis parallel to the disk rotation axis. Focus can involve pivoting the arm about an axis parallel to the disk surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 1999
    Publication date: August 1, 2002
    Inventors: MICHAEL F. BRAITBERG, STEVEN B. VOLK, GREGORY D. VOLAN, IAN R. REDMOND
  • Publication number: 20010014071
    Abstract: A user-removable optical data storage system is provided. A rotatable first-surface medium is enveloped in a cartridge. The cartridge provides relatively large data capacity such as about 0.25 Gbytes or more despite a relatively small size such as about 35 mm×35 mm×3 mm. Preferably the cartridge substantially seals the data surfaces of the medium when the cartridge is withdrawn from a drive and at least a portion of one surface is automatically exposed to the objective of an optics arm when said cartridge is inserted in the drive. Tracking involves rotating an optic arm about an axis parallel to the disk rotation axis. Focus can involve pivoting the arm about an axis parallel to the disk surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Publication date: August 16, 2001
    Inventors: Michael F. Braitberg, Steven B. Volk, Gregory D. Volan, Ian R. Redmond
  • Publication number: 20010006503
    Abstract: A user-removable optical data storage system is provided. A rotatable first-surface medium is enveloped in a cartridge. The cartridge provides relatively large data capacity such as about 0.25 Gbytes or more despite a relatively small size such as about 35 mm×35 mm×3 mm. Preferably the cartridge substantially seals the data surfaces of the medium when the cartridge is withdrawn from a drive and at least a portion of one surface is automatically exposed to the objective of an optics arm when said cartridge is inserted in the drive. Tracking involves rotating an optic arm about an axis parallel to the disk rotation axis. Focus can involve pivoting the arm about an axis parallel to the disk surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2001
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventors: Michael F. Braitberg, Steven B. Volk, Gregory D. Volan, Ian R. Redmond
  • Patent number: 5867340
    Abstract: Disclosed is a rigid disk drive information storage device which includes a rigid disk having an outside diameter in the range of about 33-34 mm., with a housing having a footprint that includes a width of about 35 mm. and utilizing a rotary actuator for positioning read/write recording elements across the surface of the disk. The disk storage devices further includes a footprint with length of about 50.8 mm., and includes in one embodiment dynamic head loading apparatus for loading the read/write recording elements into operative relationship with the disk. In another embodiment the rigid disk drive utilizes contact start stop loading and unloading of the read/write recording elements. An inertial latch is also provided for preventing rotation of the actuator when the drive is subjected to a rotational force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Mobile Storage Technology Inc.
    Inventors: James H. Morehouse, Thomas L. Andrews, Jr., Gary E. Counts, Steven B. Volk, Michael R. Utenick, Stephen R. Cowen, Richard K. Thompson
  • Patent number: 5835303
    Abstract: Disclosed is a rigid disk drive information storage device which includes a rigid disk having an outside diameter in the range of about 33-34 mm., with a housing having a footprint that includes a width of about 35 mm. and utilizing a rotary actuator for positioning read/write recording elements across the surface of the disk. The disk storage devices further includes a footprint with length of about 50.8 mm., and includes in one embodiment dynamic head loading apparatus for loading the read/write recording elements into operative relationship with the disk. In another embodiment the rigid disk drive utilizes contact start stop loading and unloading of the read/write recording elements. An inertial latch is also provided for preventing rotation of the actuator when the drive is subjected to a rotational force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Integral Peripherals, Inc.
    Inventors: James H. Morehouse, Robert A. Alt, David M. Furay, Bruce D. Emo, Steven B. Volk
  • Patent number: 5760986
    Abstract: Disclosed is a rigid disk drive information storage device which includes a rigid disk having an outside diameter in the range of about 33-34 mm., with a housing having a footprint that includes a width of about 35 mm. and utilizing a rotary actuator for positioning read/write recording elements across the surface of the disk. The disk storage devices further includes a footprint with length of about 50.8 mm., and includes in one embodiment dynamic head loading apparatus for loading the read/write recording elements into operative relationship with the disk. In another embodiment the rigid disk drive utilizes contact start stop loading and unloading of the read/write recording elements. An inertial latch is also provided for preventing rotation of the actuator when the drive is subjected to a rotational force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Integral Peripherals, Inc.
    Inventors: James H. Morehouse, Stephen R. Cowen, Steven B. Volk
  • Patent number: 5694267
    Abstract: A removable disk drive is combined with a protective device for use in a computer. The protective device is constructed as a jacket made of resilient material, the jacket enclosing at least a portion of the surface of the disk drive. In one embodiment, the disk drive includes a substantially rigid disk in a housing having a footprint that includes a first dimension of about 35 mm. In another embodiment, the removable disk drive includes a housing and a substantially rigid disk having a diameter in the range of from about 33 mm to about 34 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Assignee: Integral Peripherals, Inc.
    Inventors: James H. Morehouse, David M. Furay, James A. Dunckley, John A. Mount, Bernard J. Rondestvedt, Steven B. Volk
  • Patent number: 5689386
    Abstract: Disclosed is a rigid disk drive information storage device which includes a rigid disk having a diameter in the range of about 45-50 mm., with a housing having a footprint that includes a width of about 51 mm. and utilizing a rotary actuator for positioning read/write recording elements across the surface of the disk. The disk storage devices further includes a footprint with a length of about 70 mm., includes dynamic loading apparatus for loading the read/write recording elements into operative relationship with the disk and further includes an inertial latch for preventing rotation of the actuator when the drive is subjected to a rotational force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: Integral Peripherals, Inc.
    Inventors: James H. Morehouse, James A. Dunckley, David M. Furay, John H. Blagaila, Steven B. Volk, James F. Hopper, Michael R. Utenick, Thomas A. Klein
  • Patent number: 5592349
    Abstract: A disk drive information storage device having a pair of disks for storing information, the storage device including a clamp for mounting disks on a hub, the clamp including an annular element having a first set of fingers extending from the annular element in the first direction parallel to the central axis of the annular element, the first set of fingers providing a radial force on the inside edge of one of the disks, and the clamp including a second set of fingers extending from the annular element in a second direction parallel to the central axis of the annular element and opposite to the first direction, the fingers of the second set being for imposing a radially force on an inside edge of a second disk. In another embodiment, a disk drive information storage device with a pair of disks includes a spindle motor having a rotor which includes a disk-shaped portion having an outer diameter, and an upper surface for supporting one of the pair of disks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Integral Peripherals, Inc.
    Inventors: James H. Morehouse, Robert A. Alt, James A. Dunckley, David M. Furay, Bruce D. Emo, Steven B. Volk
  • Patent number: 5486964
    Abstract: Disclosed is a disk drive information storage device having a housing and a disk means for recording and reproducing information. The disk drive information storage device utilizes an actuator comprising a body portion supported by the housing for rotation about an axis, and a load beam connected to the body portion for rotation of a first end of the load beam in a plane substantially parallel to a surface of the disk means. The load beam includes an elongated lift tab having a free end which extends beyond the first end of the load beam, with the lift tab extending along an axis which is skewed from the centerline of the load beam. A slider body including a transducer for recording and reproducing information from the disk is supported by the load beam at a position intermediate the first end of the load beam and the axis of rotation of the body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1996
    Assignee: Integral Peripherals, Inc.
    Inventors: James H. Morehouse, David M. Furay, Steven B. Volk, Michael R. Utenick, James A. Dunckley, John H. Blagaila, James F. Hopper, Thomas A. Klein
  • Patent number: 5469314
    Abstract: Disclosed is a disk drive information storage device having a housing and a disk means for recording and reproducing information. The disk drive information storage device utilizes a rotary actuator which includes a load beam and structure for dynamically loading a transducer into operative relationship with a surface of the disk means. The transducer is supported adjacent to one end of the load beam. The load beam includes at its outermost end a lift tab which extends from the load beam along an axis which is skewed from the centerline of the load beam, with the lift tab including a curvilinear portion. A cam assembly is provided on the housing adjacent to the edge of the disk means, the cam assembly including a cam surface positioned in operative relationship with the lift tab. In one embodiment, the housing has a first external dimension of about 51 mm. In another embodiment, the disk means has a diameter in the range of from about 45 mm to about 50 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: Integral Peripherals, Inc.
    Inventors: James H. Morehouse, David M. Furay, Steven B. Volk, James A. Dunckley
  • Patent number: 5457365
    Abstract: A computer having a hard disk drive includes a battery voltage monitor which establishes a shut down condition of the computer if the supply voltage falls below a chosen level V.sub.L. Upon start up of the hard disk drive motor, current through the motor is limited so that supply voltage of the battery to a computer does not fall below level V.sub.1, which level is greater than the level V.sub.L. Additionally during start up, current in the motor is controlled so that voltage supplied by the battery to the computer does not rise above a threshold level V.sub.2 which is greater than V.sub.1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1995
    Assignee: Integral Peripherals, Inc.
    Inventors: John H. Blagaila, Michael R. Utenick, Steven B. Volk